06/05/2026
Shared from another fitter šš
As Saddle Fitters we are asked all the time to give second opinions. And to say the previous fitter had done a bad job. Often on an official basis. I always say NO. A big, fat, not on your nelly, no.
Why?
Lots of reasons. But mainly because we never know what the other saddle fitter had to work with. Have I walked away from every saddle fitting I have ever done and kissed my own biceps, thinking āthat was amazingā?
No.
I walk away from them all knowing that I have done my best, but sometimes thatās within some very strict limits. Budget being the main one. If I go to a horse and the saddle really doesnāt fit. But they absolutely canāt afford a different one but the horse needs to be in work (maybe there is a big vets bill) then I will do my best to make what they have useable (or lend them a saddle). If another fitter came along and judged it without knowing the context, itād be awful. I always make sure I write it down and give them a digital copy, to say the saddle isnāt by any means perfectā¦ but stillā¦ you get what I am saying, Iām sure.
Also, horses change. We all know that. But reallyā¦ do you truly know how much they can change? Iāve seen a horse go from medium wide to extra wide in less than three months. Over the course of those three months, his saddle probably would have passed a fitting for about a week. Max. What if another fitter had come out after a month and seen it? Theyād have thought ābejesus what was Poppy thinking here??ā - well, until they came back a few weeks later and saw it had turned into a rhinoceros. š¦
So. I donāt give second opinions. I see my job as one for horse welfare. I donāt approve or agree with the litigious society we find ourselves in. If you want to sue a fitter or complain about oneā¦ you wonāt find me backing you up. Unless of course theyāre unqualified and/or dangerous.
Instead I will tell you that yes Iāll come check and fit the saddle but I canāt comment on the previous fitting. If itās been seen recently by another (qualified) saddle fitter, Iāll pop them a message out too to make sure Iām not treading on their toes. Cos itās a tough job. We shouldnāt be making it any more tough for one another.
Exceptions: untrained & unqualified fitters who are a bloody liability.
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